After Australia failed to get the Indian government to take the Tamil asylum seekers, Mr Morrison said attempts were made to get Indian consular officials into Customs ship Ocean Protector.

On board identity and nationality checks proved logistically difficult so the asylum seekers, who the Immigration Minister said were "economic migrants", were taken to the remote Curtin Detention Centre in Western Australia.

"We'll see how it goes but if the outcome of this is that no-one chooses to talk to Indian consular officials, then the Government's policy is very clear," Mr Morrison told 7.30.

"They will go to offshore processing and that's where their claims will be assessed."

No discussion with Sri Lankan government, Morrison says

Mr Morrison said there was no discussion with the Sri Lankan government about taking back the people on the boat.

"I'll tell you why - that voyage did not come from Sri Lanka. It came from India," he said.